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Optics Express

High speed optical quantum random number generation

Martin Fürst, H. Weier, Sebastian Nauerth, Davide G. Marangon, Christian Kurtsiefer, Harald Weinfurter

Published Jun 2, 2010• 194 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a fully integrated, ready-for-use quantum random number generator (QRNG) whose stochastic model is based on the randomness of detecting single photons in attenuated light. We show that often annoying deadtime effects associated with photomultiplier tubes (PMT) can be utilized to avoid postprocessing for bias or correlations. The random numbers directly delivered to a PC, generated at a rate of up to 50 Mbit/s, clearly pass all tests relevant for (physical) random number generators.

DOI
10.1364/oe.18.013029

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We present a fully integrated, ready-for-use quantum random number generator (QRNG) whose stochastic model is based on the randomness of detecting single photons in attenuated light. We show that often annoying deadtime effects associated with photomultiplier tubes (PMT) can be utilized to avoid postprocessing for bias or correlations. The random numbers directly delivered to a PC, generated at a rate of up to 50 Mbit/s, clearly pass all tests relevant for (physical) random number generators.
We present a high-quality bias-free quantum random number generator (QRNG) using photon arrival time selectively, in accordance with the number of photon detection events within a sampling time interval in attenuated light. It is well shown in both theoretical analysis and experimental verification that this random number production method eliminates both bias and correlation perfectly without more postprocessing and that the random number can clearly pass the standard randomness tests. We fulfill theoretical analysis and experimental verification of the method whose rate can reach up to 45 Mb/s.
Optical quantum random number generators (QRNGs) are a special class of physical random data sources, whose randomness is established on elementary quantum optics processes. We present a QRNG based on a CMOS chip which overcomes the limitations of the commonly used optical QRNG and which achieves a random bit generation rate up to 200 Mb/s. The CMOS chip is based on an array of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and digital counters. We prove the absolute randomness of the generated random data through statistical test suites and even more stringent correlation and bias tests applied to 32 Gbit streams. The QRNG passes all tests; hence, it proves to be one of the fastest and more reliable CMOS optical QRNGs currently available.
A quantum random number generator (QRNG) based on gated single photon detection of an In–GaAs photodiode at gigahertz frequency is demonstrated. Owing to the extremely long coherence time of each photon, each photons’ wave function extends over many gating cycles of the photodiode. The collapse of the photon wave function on random gating cycles as well as photon random arrival time detection events are used to generate sequences of random bits at a rate of 4.01Mbit∕s. Importantly, the random outputs are intrinsically biasfree and require no postprocessing procedure to pass random number statistical tests, making this QRNG an extremely simple device.
This paper proposes and demonstrates an optical quantum random number generator based on distribution of single photon pulse amplitude of a photomultiplier tube. The light emitted from ultraviolet LED is attenuated into discrete single photon sequence. After these photons are detected by the photomultiplier tube, the single-photon pulses with random distribution are output. Digital values of peaks of these single-photon pulses are used as the entropy sources of random number generation. In order to reduce the bias of the raw extracted random number, the SHA-256 post processing method based on FPGA is proposed and implemented. When our designed quantum random number generator works at a counting rate of 500 kc/s, 7 random bits can be extracted on average per detected photon, and a random number generation rate of 3.5 Mbit/s is obtained. The random bit sequences are tested by random number test programs ENT and STS. The test results show that the generated random bit sequences fully meet the standards of true random numbers. ©, 2015, Board of Optronics Lasers. All right reserved.
This paper proposes and demonstrates an optical quantum random number generator based on distribution of single photon pulse amplitude of a photomultiplier tube.The light emitted from ultraviolet LED is attenuated into discrete single photon sequence.After these photons are detected by the photomultiplier tube,the single-photon pulses with random distribution are output.Digital values of peaks of these single-photon pulses are used as the entropy sources of random number generation.In order to reduce the bias of the raw extracted random number,the SHA-256 post processing method based on FPGA is proposed and implemented.When our designed quantum random number generator works at a counting rate of 500kc/s,7random bits can be extracted on average per detected photon,and a random number generation rate of 3.5Mbit/s is obtained.The random bit sequences are tested by random number test programs ENT and STS.The test results show that the generated random bit sequences fully meet the standards of true random numbers.